Prop construction for mines



May 17, 1932. H. QUEENS PROP CONSTRUCTION FOR MINES Filed NOV. 21, 1929 Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED ST HUGO QUEENS, 0F GLADBECK, GERMANY PROP CONSTRUCTION FOR MINES Application filed November 21, 1929, Serial No. 408,82, and in Great Britain October 11, 1929.

This invention relates to a yielding iron stilted prop which presents the advantage over the props at present used in the adits and galleries of mines, that it can yield to a certain extent to the difi'erent pressure effects of the surrounding masses of earth so that besides saving the material a considerably longer life is obtained as compared with rigid props.

In order to obtain this yieldability, peculiarly constructed slide cap shoes are used having suitable compressible insertions forming a pair of wedges, whereby the slidlng of the cap shoes, according to the increase of the sliding pressure caused by the actual rock pressure, is limited because the insertions, which are pressed together, ofi'er a certain resistance. The wedging action can be adjusted according to the size of the necessary sliding stroke owing to alteration in length of the wedge axis, whereby the cap shoe itself remains unchanged. The sliding cap shoes can also be used for iron prop work, so that they are protected against pressure from all directions.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows one half of a prop,

Fig. 2 is a part view A.

Fig. 3 shows the upper sliding cap shoe seen from below.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 through the lower shoe.

Fig. 5 shows the prop shoe, seen from L the shoe being removed.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a continuous prop construction.

According to the invention the props a with the prop legs I), which may be either straight or curved, and for which all rails T and other section girders may be used, are connected by the yielding connecting or prop shoes 0 so that, in the event of superincumbent pressure of the ground arising in sufficient strength, the prop legs in the prop shoe will slide downwards on the prop and can thus yield to the pressure. The counter-bearing a on the prop a further permits of a strut being fitted for reinforcing the prop against too strong lower thrust pressure.

These prop shoes 0, which are used for prop posts composed of two parts i. e. an upper part Z2 and a lower part a, are so constructed that the prop shoe 0 engages with its two claws 0 around the upper part Z) of the prop post built up of rails. The base plate 0 of the prop shoe 3 is also benthook-shaped to form a suspension member 0 which engages 7 over the upper part of the prop a of the prop post so that therefore the prop shoe is rigidly held in position on the prop a. The insertion between the prop shoe 0 and the foot of the prop leg is composed of a wedge, which is adjustable, and of a nose wedge e, which is fastened in the prop shoe 0 by means of screws or rivets 7 in such a manner that the nose is flush with the lower part of the sliding cap shoe 0. Between the wedge (Z and the nose wedge e a resilient automatically adjustable compression insert g, for example in the form of a steel spring bent in C-shape, is interposed. The wedge is widened at its lower end and forms a hook-like engaging part it adapted to connect the wedge to the upper prop leg 6. A claw i is further riveted on this end and engages the prop a. Gonsequently the prop leg 7) is movable on the prop a in such a manner that, after the insertion of the wedge d and of the pressing insertion g, the prop post forms a rigid unit.

If superincumbent pressure of the ground.

occurs from above, the prop leg I; descends and carries with it the wedge cl owing to the nose It fastened thereto, whereby the pressure insert 9 is deformed, as it is prevented from participating in the downward movement. The two inclined Wedge, surfaces of the two Wedges d and e approach one another. The pressing insert is therefore still further compressed, according to the superincumbent pressure of the ground and to the ground displacement. The spring can however not avoid this compression, as the nose of the nose wedge e prevents its downward movement. The prop shoe 0 can also not participate in the downward movement and also the nose wedge e, as the hook-shaped end 0 of the propshoe c engages over the arising, enable the prop leg to yield towards the centre of the gallery.

These shoes 1, contrary to' theprop shoes above described, are made without the hookshaped suspension member The insert consists of a wedge bar anchored at one end with the rail base, beside which a yielding intermediate insertion g is provided which may be composed of a steel spring, a wooden wedge or other compressible material. This steel spring 9 is preferably bent in C-shape so that, when the shoe slides, the spring will be rolled together transversely to its longi tudinal direction.

A further iron insertion (nose wedge) a, rigidly connected with the shoe, effects the uniform transmission of the pressure bearing on the cap rail is. The thrust pressure exerted by the rock on the prop leg, if suficiently strong, effects a forward sliding and yielding of the shoe Z on the foot of the cap rail-k towards the centre of the gallery, the yielding insertion 9 being pressed together by the wedge m. The resistance of the cap shoe, the yieldability of whichcan be determined as desired by altering the leg 7 of the wedge bar, increases in the course of the straight part of the wedge line during the carrying out of the sliding stroke. By

making the wedge line curved the resistance quickly attalns' its maximuinwhich, when the wedge stroke has-been effected, remains constant. The sharply rising nose on the end of the wedge bar prevents the cap shoe from sliding off and thereby collapsing of the prop work. i

If the, yieldability of the sliding cap shoe has reached its limit, the prop and cap shoe are brought back into their initial positions, as they both, if they are properly treated,

remain undamaged. The wedge lines of the pair of wedgesmay be either straight or curved in any suitable manner.

I claim 1. A prop construction for use in mines, open on the sole, comprising in combination a cap, two part legs, slidable cap angles at the connecting point between said cap an said legs, connecting shoes in said legs, a pair ofv wedge-shaped members between said shoes and said legs, and a spring adapted to coact with said wedge-shaped members all of the said elements adapted to form a frame yieldable against lateral and superincumbent pressure by the mutual shifting of the individual parts.

2. A prop construction for use in mines, closed on all sides, comprising in combination a cap, one piece legs, sole plates, cap angles at the points of connection between said cap and said legs, and a pair of wedgeshaped members coacting with a spring at the points of connection between said sole plates and said legs all of the said elements adapted to form a frame yieldable to superincumbent and lateral pressure and also against creeps by the mutual shifting of the individual parts.

3. A prop construction for use in mines, comprising in combination a cap, shoring frame legs, a sole plate, a cap angle between said cap and each of said legs, a connecting and each of said connecting shoes adapted to form a wedge pin with the nose wedged in.

said cap angles and in said shoes 4. A prop constructionfor use in mines, as specified in claim 3, comprising in combination with the cap angles the connecting shoes and nose wedges and the wedge, bars, a spring bent in C-shape between each of said wedge bars and said angles and between each of said wedge barsand said connecting shoes, said spring adapted to roll together at the shifting of said wedges. r

5. A prop construction for use in mines, as specified in claim 3, comprising in combination with the shoring frame legs the'connecting shoes and the, wedge bars, claws on said connecting shoes adapted to grip around said shoring frame legs, props adapted to carry said shoring frame legs, a'hook on the upper, end each of said connecting shoes adapted to hook onto the upper end of said. props, and a claw on the lower end of each of said wedge bars guided on said props adapted to be hooked tightly onto the lowere'ndof said shoring frame legs.

6. A prop construction for use in mines, as specified in claim 3, comprising in COIIl bination with the cap angles the connecting shoes the nose wedges and the wedge bars, a spring bent in C-shape between each of said wedgs bars and said angles and between each of said wedge bars and said connecting shoes, a hook shaped projection on each of said nose wedges adapted to prevent said springs from sliding with said nose wedges. i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HUGO QUEENS. I i 

